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| Adam Driver |
Welcome to the weekly column Trailing Off in which I take a look at a trailer from the past week and analyze its potential. This will be done using an obnoxious amount of analyzing and personal thoughts on the cast and crew as well as expectations. Coming every Sunday (it's called Trailing Off for a reason), I will attempt to highlight films ranging from new blockbusters to lesser known indies and give them their due. Partially to spread awareness, I do believe that there is an art to the sell and will do my best to highlight why these trailers matter or don't with approval (trove) or disapproval (trash). So please stop by, recommend some trailers, and I will see you next time.
Trailer in Discussion
Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
Written By: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Helen-Jean Arthur
- Preamble -
With the impending finale of Girls approaching quicker, it's interesting to see which of the actors have actually stood a chance at having a career. While Christopher Abbott left the show after a few years, he has mostly been a big hit in smaller indie dramas such as James White. Even with her courting controversy, Lena Dunham hasn't really found her next big project. Most of the other girls of Girls are at best supporting actors in other people's works. Which is interesting to then note that the real breakout star of Girls was Adam Driver, who played the creepy boyfriend on the series and seemed to be the rawest talent in the central cast.
In the few years since Girls has become its own beast, Driver has pretty much had a steady escalation in his career. He's worked the indie comedy scene, but is probably better now known for a supporting role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It's ridiculous to think that he'll have the best career of everyone following the series' finale, and Paterson seems to suggest that he has a nice home in the indie world to fall back on. It's a story of a poetry-writing bus driver who experiences life in his own idiosyncratic way. It is a kooky premise, but one that could possibly produce some nuanced comedy and charisma from Driver that shows what has given him this unexpected longevity.
The other interesting note is that this is the latest film from Jim Jarmusch, who is one of the more dry directors currently working. His previous film Only Lovers Left Alive featured an alternative take on vampire culture that was at very least a slow and somewhat dull story on its surface. It was in ways a reflection on the decaying culture of analog through the guise of Detroit, Michigan. One can only imagine that audiences not familiar with Jarmusch will come into Paterson with a certain misunderstanding. Will it be one of his slower movies, or will it play into Driver's strengths? All I know is that the buzz around this film has been rather excellent, and I am curious to see how it goes.
- Dissection -
If nothing else, the film delivers on the premise. There's plenty of Driver voice-over in which he recites observations of the world around him. There's an articulation that can be found underneath his somewhat dour demeanor. There's an optimism that he hides in his bus driving career and doesn't let anyone really see. The story doesn't quite hit the moments of inspiration, but it does suggest that this will be a tale of finding one's self in unconventional matters. This version just happens to involve an eccentric group of characters that sometimes have a disarming charm to them.
There's also the typical pull quotes to get audiences to see the film. The need to say that it is a film for everyone may be a little disconcerting, but it does raise hope that this will be an accessible Jarmusch film that breaks the mold of his other works. Maybe the success of Driver's other films will lead audiences to give this one a chance. Even then, hyperbole is sometimes hard for me to see as a good sign, as it means that the content isn't enough to sell itself. Then again, Jarmusch isn't easy to sell without suggesting that there's more than dry subjects going about a mundane life. The jury's out on how effective this actually will be.
Whatever the case may be, it's a well made trailer that emphasizes what likely will work about the film. Considering that it is making the film festival circuit, it will be awhile before the film gets its equivalent of a wide release. Until then, there's a story that honestly wouldn't seem appealing if the names didn't mean anything to me. I am likely to see a Jarmusch film, even if he isn't my favorite. Driver has his moments, such as in While We're Young, but he still needs to prove himself to me. Otherwise, it's a good trailer. I just don't know if it's effective in getting me to care about the film.
- One Sentence Sell -
Adam Driver stars as a poetry-writing bus driver that looks to be a dry comedy about discovering inner talents.
- Trove or Trash -
TRASH
Again, it's a good trailer, but my enthusiasm for the film hasn't really risen after seeing what's in store. I expect it to be good, but not any more than I did before the trailer.
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